Segovia Schools See Surge in Requests for on-Site Nursing Support for Students with chronic Conditions
Segovia, Spain - Parents in Segovia province are increasingly requesting on-site nursing support in public schools to manage chronic student health conditions and respond to potential emergencies, prompting action from the Junta de Castilla y León. The demand reflects a growing need to support students with conditions like type 1 diabetes and severe allergies, ensuring their safety and well-being during the school day.
One mother described the delicate balance between fostering her daughter’s independence and ensuring her safety while managing type 1 diabetes. “Now that she is older, we are going to give her more independence, we are going to trust her,” she said, noting her daughter carries a fanny pack with a glucose meter and pills to school in Segovia.The mother also highlighted the need for school staff to be prepared to administer glucagon in case of unconsciousness, and for adaptability during exams, stating, “If you have a drop, you have to stop taking the exam.”
The requests extend beyond diabetes. Another parent shared concerns about her seven-year-old daughter’s severe allergies to nuts, honey, fish, and shellfish. “I’m afraid to take the dining room service, fortunately I can provide the food at home,” she explained, adding that despite educating other parents and faculty – including a pediatrician’s presentation three years ago – she remains vigilant with an epinephrine auto-injector. ”You would have to prick it, you have to have blood to do it.” She lives with the daily fear of a reaction, stating, “When they call me from school I always think, oh, nothing happened.”
The process for authorizing a nurse in a school requires a thorough review of each student’s case by the Social and Health Commission of the Ministry of Education, based on a medical report detailing required care, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological.
Currently, twelve educational centers in the province of Segovia have been authorized to hire nurses to support students with these needs: IES of La Albuera, María Moliner, Marqués de Lozoya (Cuéllar), María Zambrano (El Espinar), CEIPs of El peñascal Arcipreste de Hita (El Espinar), Marqués del Arco (San Cristóbal), Agapito Marazuela (La Granja de San Ildefonso), Teodosio el Grande (Coca), Santa Clara (Cuéllar), plus the rural centers of El Olmar (Olombrada) and Los Almendros (La Lastrilla).
the increasing demand underscores the growing complexity of managing student health needs within the school environment, requiring adaptation and collaboration between parents, educators, and healthcare professionals. Children are “debuting” with these conditions at varying ages, from infancy through secondary school, necessitating at least a year of adjustment to treatment plans.
